Because I am a girl - Get involved

In 2007, Gordon Brown promised to do more to make sure that children living in countries affected by war have access to education.

Next summer, some of the most influential governments will be meeting to discuss how their aid money for education is spent.

We want to influence the UK government to make sure that girls are not left behind. Please help us strengthen our call by emailing Gordon Brown.

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Dear Mr Brown,

Did you know that an estimated 20 million girls in conflict affected states are not in education?

In 2007, you made a very welcome promise to do more for children living in conflict affected states but girls are being left behind. According to Plan’s latest report 'Because I am a girl: living in the shadow of war', many girls drop out of school in times of insecurity and conflict. They may be scared for their safety en route to or at school, or forced to work because their parents can not afford to send them to school.

We would like to see the UK Government make sure that girls can benefit as much as boys from funding for education in conflict affected states.

Girls living in the shadow of war have a right to be in school, receiving a quality education. Educating girls promotes economic growth as well as reducing child mortality and malnutrition.

Post conflict re-building is an ideal opportunity for states to ensure that girls as well as boys have access to quality education. This is acknowledged in Liberia, where there has been new investment in girls’ education across the country since the end of the conflict. According to the Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, "securing the future of our girls is critical to achieving national development".  When she was inaugurated in 2006, she made primary education free so that all girls now have access to education.

According to one 17 year-old girl from Timor-Leste, a country still experiencing insecurity:

“We young women can change things but we need to study hard…This nation needs to live in peace. We need to build peace in our families, our communities and our nation”

She and thousands like her need your help Mr Brown. They need you to:

- Ensure that in countries afected by war, girls as well as boys have access to quality, relevant and safe education through the Fast Track Initiative’s proposed new fund for education in conflict affected fragile states.

- Work with states affected by war and other partners already working in these countries to develop effective delivery strategies for girls’ education.

- Ensure that progress is monitored through data broken down by age and sex.

Please keep your promise to them.

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